How To Fix BOA Laces On Your Cycling Shoes | GCN Tech Monday Maintenance

BOA dials have been a revelation in cycling shoe tech. While they’re quick, reliable and easy to tension, they’re not immune to crash damage or even wearing out. Luckily, you can service the BOA laces yourself at home, and Alex is here to show us exactly how!
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[@gcntech]

Do you prefer BOA dials or traditional laces? Let us know in the comments 👇

[@ivarbrouwer197]

I prefer Velcro, sadly only a few top end/mid range shoes are made with it these days. Boa’s: they work, but when they break it’s a lot of work to fix even more so en route on holiday. Laces look cool, But I doubt the on the fly adjustment.

[@tomsnider7611]

I am now anti-Boa. After having a complete unit pull away from the shoe and leaving me on the side of the road. Nobody sells a Boa base to reattach it so unless you go to laces the shoe is worthless. Velcro, laces, and ratchets are a better choice until Boa catches up.

[@geraldh.3491]

Boa - or the Mavic Variety for me. Never failed me over many year, rain, snow and mud.

[@markusmencke8059]

Boa. I just like then adjustability. Especially on longer rides, when the feet swell, I just pull open the dial, do one light (no-power) pedal stroke so the wire can open a bit (just as much as the foot has swollen), and close it again. Also works on the clamping mechanism variant on my Sidi MTB shoes. Just push those two release levers, and if it is still a bit to tight after one pedal stroke, do it again.

[@mr.piccolo186]

Why hasn't Nike, Adidas and all of those shoe makers implemented these on regular shoes...? And here I am tying my laces like a sucker!

[@t.c.5653]

Great video. I live in a small town so finding good replacement shoes is impossible. After watching this video and remembering that I had probably saved the tool 15 years ago in my cycling toolbox, It took me 15 minutes to repair the system. You saved me around $250 for new shoes that would not have been an ideal fit. Thank you.

[@erikjohnson6484]

Reminds me of re-spooling line back into a weedwacker.

[@DeanPattrick]

Yeah, I had the same thought 🤣

[@harrisonsearle7442]

Thank you, GCN

[@gcntech]

no worries!

[@davidgabel6390]

Thanks gcn. You guys are lifesavers ! You’ve explained this much better than boa has. And I’ve learned quite a bit from you all across the pond!! Thanks again for teaching me so much about fixing bike stuff!

[@user-zg8zy9sv3t]

Thank you, GCN! I had no idea there was a screw in the middle of the dial. Instructions were detailed and perfect!

[@cjmwrites]

Thanks so much for this. My lace came loose during a ride on Tuesday, so I contacted Boa who supplied me with replacements. This video made it easy to change the dials so now I'm back up and running. We'll done GCN!

[@MostlyReading]

Your macro shots have gotten wayyy better. You should consider doing fresh videos of some older stuff like adjusting front and rear derailleurs. Great video!

[@speckles9251]

This is one of the reasons why cyclists should subscribe to GCN - 8) regardless of any industrial affiliations. Good job, Alex!

[@davidburgess741]

Your video will come in handy some day because I tend to keep things quite a while. Unlike a pump manufacturer with inadequate instructions, I watched the Chinese version and understood despite lack of Mandarin language skills!

[@ralph1269]

GREAT VIDEO! I didn't realize I had to be Oppenheimer to replace a BOA ratchet. Imma start carrying a 1/2" roll of electrical tape and just tape my shoe shut if my BOA breaks while out on a ride...which, ofc, it will at some point...the point where I am FURTHEST from home.

[@paulbressie8239]

You guys are legends! Good thing I’m the kind of gent who keeps everything! Just took a bit to dig it out. One question: where you you get more lace?

[@mypointofblue5260]

Thanks for sharing! I didn’t even know the actual name of the laces until now. Mine finally snapped on my shoe and I found your video during my query! :)

[@kylepeveto7270]

Thanks for this video! The instructions with the repair kit were not clear enough for me. This helped so much.

[@stevebrink8614]

Many thanks, took all the mystery away for changing a lace . V.helpful, thanks

Thank you so much. I repaired so easily my right shoe with this tutorial 👍👍

[@bjornhermono9284]

Alex at 2:02 takes a picture Also alex at 4:55 who didn't take a picture

[@MaxMarioMustermann]

Thanks for the excellent video.

[@michaeltrollope8048]

Lol literally 2 weeks ago I was at a bike shop for over an hour while the technician and zi figured it out together. This would have been useful then. Deffs gonna keep this in memory for future. Thanks Alex

[@mikeg4067]

Thank you! Very easy to follow directions and great video shots to support. Wonderful! Appreciate the support.

[@user-yw2no8yj2c]

Thanks for the tutorial! Back on the road.

[@eudesmatos6860]

Thanks and Recommended for all

[@owenanstey436]

Love what you have done there Alex, and yes we dig boa's

[@christophhanck]

Great video. I could not get it to work with a standard T6 torx though, the shaft being too thick for the tiny hole in the BOA dial. So I had to wait for the specific tool from BOA that features in the video.

[@liquidSpin]

I may need this video someday. Thank you GNC 🙏🏻

[@fishtail123]

great guide. 👍🏼

[@luismoraissarmento9826]

Nice video. However, where can you get the cable to substitute the original? Thanks in advance.

[@MIKE6789MW]

thanks!

[@chawley52]

Just got my first pair of Boa equipped shoes...I will never go back to laces or racket straps!

[@kibbee890]

I have plastic ratchet straps on my shoes. They work well and never gave me a problem.

[@mlustosakm]

Still prefer my Velcro straps on tri shoes hehe

[@jack002tuber]

Same here

[@mrtnsnp]

Tweezers! Also note that older models are replaced in a different way. My replacements came with very clear instructions (free of charge, the replacement, not just the instructions!)

[@jarl-dk]

Do you have instructions for these older dial models? I cannot figure out how to open mine.

[@mrtnsnp]

@@jarl-dk You don't open then, you replace them.

[@ianmarkham149]

Great video. Alex, can you pop round and do my garden strimmer?

[@mattkijowski]

This will only work for one of Boa's platforms (IP1). Cycling shoes feature a few different Boa platforms, but the good news is that Boa offers free warranty on all product and replacement kits with full instructions.

[@bjm2762]

Works for golf shoes as well 👍Well explained Alex

[@lwittrock1]

Excellent video!

[@davidtremblay9407]

Sidi version please!

[@ytyehyeh]

I still prefer a ratcheting buckle on my cycling shoes. You can easily tighten and loosen them even while wearing full finger gloves and using neoprene shoe covers. If I could though, I might want BOA dials on my other athletic shoes for other sports over regular laces, which often come loose on me and make adjustments in the forefoot impractical unless you've got several minutes of down time during an activity. I avoid velcro/hook-loop fasteners whenever I can to avoid damaging fabrics vulnerable to the dreaded inadvertent hook snag.

[@nileshvagal]

Superb !!!!!! Grt Vid .. Cheers

[@LeonardoHSgrignoli]

Is possible change the boa IP1 to boa Li2 on the DMT KR1?

[@tn9274]

i have weird experience with RC502. The boa loosen itself after riding especially on the side where I unclip shoe the most frequent

[@jon65160]

Hi GCN Tech. i intend to do a full service of my road bike this winter. One of the jobs is a brake bleed (Ultegra 8000). There are adjustment screws in the lever (reach and free travel). Do I need to put these adjustment screws in a particular position before I bleed the system? Many thanks Jon

[@petesmail1]

On a different tech note, now that the tacx neo 2t is on sale, is it worth buying it or waiting for a new one to launch? (But there wasn’t anything new in the eurobike show). In a dilemma since sales often happen before a new model is released. What’s GCN Tech’s take/advice?

[@lechprotean]

I have both neo 2 and neo2t and I'm really happy with it. Some people prefer Wahoo Kickr but it's more down to personal preference - both are very good units.

[@petesmail1]

@@lechprotean I believe they are. But why isn’t there a new tacx release…? It’s been a while. Wondering if I should wait or buy the 2t

[@alexclark9514]

Great video

[@zukzworld]

Those shoes! 😍

[@gegesukmono]

What a type of BOA in dmt sh1? My screw of Boa was broken

[@romanasjerochovas]

Hi there. What im suppose to do if there no tiny hole for small screwdrivers? 🙄

[@bighammer3464]

What do we do if the boa attachment to the shoe itself breaks? Is there a way to replace that?

[@karlvoss7771]

Same here on my fizik shoes. The front dial wire is a single piece and sewn in at the front

[@postskeetclarity]

can you replace string shoes with boa?

[@atlosass]

Not quite as good as the GTN video on how to tie your shoes, but still pretty good.

[@petrabuis]

what do you do when you don't know the exact length of the lace in your fizik shoe , because most of it has fallen out when the lace broke during a ride?

[@maricarmenrodriguez1403]

Is 10 km cycling good for weight loss?

[@lbaronXL]

My Boa ratchet doesn't appear to have access to a screw. a cheaper pair of Shimano shoes. SHRP400M L01S is the only marking still left on them.

[@duaneamostuazon8515]

I've got the same problem... any updates for how you solved it?

[@jameswitte5676]

#GCNtech Is it okay to store a hydraulic brake bicycle upside down?

[@hisdadjames4876]

But my shoes have only ONE dial per shoe, the lace being anchored at the toe end. How can I get it unanchored, I wonder? No sign of a knot...looks bonded somehow🧐

[@karlvoss7771]

Same here

[@RuffRides]

Mine were sticking...this didn't say how/what to lubricate them with

[@TamaEnergy]

help my issue is the sewen in part the bit the spool clicks into has snapped :( what can i do!>!

[@chrishebert5672]

Just looked at my shoes and there is no hole for a T6 tool in the "O" of BOA. How would I get the spool off?

[@aaronpike1853]

Is there a BOA sticker on the face? You may have to puncture the sticker to get at the T6 underneath.

[@chrishebert5672]

@@aaronpike1853 There is no sticker, just a hard plastic cover with no hole. The shoes are from Pearl Izumi a 1-2 years ago.

[@Simte]

This system is nice but I fancy a more old school approach :).

[@grommet20002000]

These have been around quite a few years and are now very reliable. Infact i would say more reliable than velcro or laces

[@davidburgess741]

Nothing like shoe laces getting stuck in the chainring. Very awkward!

[@SYLKOLIAKOS]

My boa is different.

[@freerider9191]

I have a fizik vento carbon 2, how to remove the L12 BOA cap?

[@mattkijowski]

Check out Boa's website. There are warranty kits available as well as instructions for all platforms.

[@Wildschwein_Jaeger]

T6 torque. Tool comes with a replacement set. Each bag has one left and one right BOA cap and spools (red and purple), laces, and screws. It is an easy job. You just need to match the BOA type. The set for my Fizik shoes were branded Scott.

[@freerider9191]

@@mattkijowski thnks Matt, L12 Caps need pry tools, according to boa repair video kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmbEZZZ3rsuYqM0

[@freerider9191]

@@Wildschwein_Jaeger it needs pry tools instead of T6, just got curious how to remove the L12 boa cap since i couldnt see a hole for t6 on it.

[@zedtony8110]

Tweezers may have helped just a little

[@jasonyltan7672]

I've got the base of the BOA snapping off the shoe - any fix for that?

[@mattkijowski]

Go to Boa's website and claim your repair kit! They offer lifetime warranty on all product.

[@Wildschwein_Jaeger]

New shoe.

[@jasonyltan7672]

@@mattkijowski gonna give it a shot!

[@nprovenzo]

Tech question: Shouldn't it not matter if I am using a ten-speed or eleven-speed rear derailer on my bike if the shifters and cassette match? Isn’t the real concern pairing the right shifter with the proper cassette, so the indexing is correct? In my case, I have a ten-speed Ultegra rear derailleur on my bike and I’m finding it hard to source a replacement. Couldn’t I use an eleven-speed rear derailleur with my ten-speed shifter and ten-speed cassette?

[@danejr7896]

Hello what is the phone number to get in touch with to get this tool to fix mine. I have a pair of under armor. Keep hammering, Cameron Hanes shoes that I bought a couple years ago and I slipped off a ladder and the ratchet system broke. I have never been able to use the shoes to run since and they were my favorite pair and quite expensive.

[@williamschultz8198]

Its a T6...I answered my own question!!!

[@ChrisCapoccia]

lol. i can't even keep track of which way to turn my spoke nipples! how am i ever going to do this?

[@Fetucinee]

The best way I've found to deal with BOA mechs is to avoid 'em. They are a pain. Ratchet and velcro straps for me.

[@williamschultz8198]

Got any idea what size the torxs bit size is on the tool?

[@Evilc47]

T6

[@wsbygt]

7:52 everyone on stage yelled FFS.... Even on the editing room.

[@gregmarcus3064]

"Hear that!" (ominius voice) "that's the sound of ordinary laces" because Pogacar my cycling god uses ordinary laces. EffFF BOAS.

[@HammerTho]

Wtf-- No place to put the "t6"

[@dpw6900]

Rather than taking a picture that you might not have the correct angle just do one shoe at a time using the other as an example.

[@brianwillaman1776]

I will NEVER try this again. lol Ever!!!

[@brianwillaman1776]

I love yo guys but videos like this are bullshit...lol, you make it look waaaaaaaaay too easy. lol

[@clintnieves]

First

[@Morningbikeride]

delete this

[@TheSamwhyte]

No one cares.

[@clintnieves]

@@Morningbikeride🤣

[@clintnieves]

@@TheSamwhyte clearly you do 🤣. What u gonna do bout it 😎

[@Ariautoace]

If course I threw away the screwdriver in my excitement.

[@davidgabel6390]

Thanks gcn. You guys are lifesavers ! You’ve explained this much better than boa has. And I’ve learned quite a bit from you all across the pond!! Thanks again for teaching me so much about fixing bike stuff!